davidson



y A. C. DAVIDSON.

PLATFRM BUFFING GEAR.

APPLICATIUN FILED Amz. 19m

llatentd Aug. 5, 19m.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. C. DAVIDSON.

PLATFORM BUFFING GEAR.

APPLlcATloN FILED APR.2.1915.

Patented Aug. 5, 191).

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' ofthe city of Chicago,

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o. nasen, or cmcaeo, mentors, nssronon fro wanen nnarr e i or omenoo, mentors, a conro'rrolt ornrtntois.

rnnaro errante-ein.

integrer i f Speelcation et Letters Patent. Wmtmmtjppjt Ammo-m 59 tpm n To all whom t may concern:

Be it lrnown thatI, l e in i: G. Bavmsoiv, a citizen of the United States, and a resident in the county of Cook andV State of Illinois, Ahave invented certain new and useful improvements in Platform BuiiingGe-ars; and .l do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and enact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying awings', and to tlie'- numerals of re eretico-marked thereon, which form -a part of this' specilcation. i.

Many diderent types of resilient gears have been constructed for car platform buf fers, but in general they have been impracticable due toithe fact that it is dicult to associate the same with a car already inV service, 'and also due tothe fact that in most cases adaptation of the gear to a car under construction has necessitated a change in design of the car underframing to permit association of the gear therewith. i l

rl`his invention, however, relates to proved type of. platform bung gear which may be associated'with a car necessitating only slight alterations thereof to receive -the gear, and acting eiciently to receive and absorb buftingstresses and maintain the tread plates of coupled cars closely adjacent one-another. l l

lt is an objecttherefore oftbis-invention' to construct aplatforrn boiling gear wherein the entire gear is itself movable within certain limits, havingv associated to move .therewith and normallyv out of action. a

heavy duty absorption gear to protect the carcandgear under excessive bungor'impact loads. v

lt is also an object of this invention to construct av platform bufling gear embracing v central and side absorption-mechanisms, the

central mechanism vcomprising two diderent types of resilient absorption v'means coperatively associated to bring one 'into operation only after the other has been stressed to a certain amount. l y

' It is furthermore an important object of this invention to construct a platform bufling' gear embracing side and' central resilient an ineV absorption means, the central means mov able asa whole under excessive impact or bufling stresses to prevent destruction of the gear vand to absorb excessive stresses.

lt is nally an object of this invention to -construct an improved type of platform buffing gear simple and com actin construction and capable of being rea 'ly adapted to different types of cars.

The invention (in a; preferred fo) is ttl illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. ln the drawings: lllgure l is a fragmentary top plan view of the framing of a car platform and louder tio illustrating the adaptation thereto of a loutf- `llig. @is a fragmentary enlarged detail sectiontalrcn vertically through therear end of the housing and follower plate.

As shown in theV drawings:

The reference numerals 1 and 2, denote ttl auf

respectively the platform sills of a car which in the present invention areshown as f-beams.

i and laid thereover is the platform door 3,

with abuilt-up platform end sill, denoted as .a whole by the reference numeral 4;, eatendf ing acrosstbe end of said sills l and 2., and provided with a tread plate 5, flush with the floor 3, of the platform. l

Sliclably mounted. hrough the platform end sill is a center stem 6, 'and side stems i', and connected on the outer end of said stems 7, is a platform buer member 8, provided with a tread plate 9, which is adapted to slide beneath the tread plate 5. The absorption gear mechanism for the platform buffer member 8, is mounted rearwardly of the platform. end sill e, and .for this purpose brackets .l0 are securedto the outer surface titl therethrough. Coiled about each of said stems 7, are compression springs 11, one end of each thereof bearing against the brackets 10, and the other ends against a eollar'12, one secured upon each of the stems 7. Thus when the buffer member 8, is thrust inwardly the stems 7 moving therewith, compress the springs l1, by movement of said collars 12, toward the brackets 10. .Thread ed nuts 13, are engaged on the ends of said side stems 7, to hold the same inwardlyV against the compression of the springs l1, and it is apparent that by adjustment of said nuts the compression on said springs 11, may be varied, as well as the outer limit of movement of the buffer member 8. The center stem 6, projects into the recessed end of a collar or follower 14, on the opposite side of which is seated theend of a heavy coiled `compression spring 15, disposed within a cylindrical extension 16, of a slidable housing 17.

For the purpose of supporting said housing movably between the sills 1,and.2, of the car platform, heavy straps of metal 18 and -19respectively, are riveted to the Webs of the sills, extending horizontally therebetweem'and secured upon said straps is a horizontal supporting plate 20. Said housing 17, is provided on its under-surface with achang or wear plate 21, which is extended forwardly beneath the .cylindrical extension 16, ofthe housing, and said chafing plate rests slidably upon said horizontal supporting plate 20. The housing 17, is rectangular in section, being provided with recesses 22,

in the top Wall, recesses 23, in the side Walls, and recesses 24, in the bottom wall thereof, the latter being disposed directly beneath said recesses 22, in the top wall.

Small rectangular recesses 25, are rovided in each of the side walls of t-he housing 17, at the rear edge thereof, as shown in dotted lines inFigs. 2 and 6, and in full lines 1n Figs., 1 and 4.' Laid upon the bottom 'shownin Figs.

wallx of said housing 17, is a wear plate 26, and two groups of resilient friction plates 28 and 29, respectively, areinterposed within said housing between said Wear plate and the top of said housing. Between said groups of resilient friction plates 28 and 29, is a separator 30, and the inner surface of the end wall of said housing 17, is convex,

-as clearly shown in Fig. l, so as to contact the end plate of the group of plates 28, at the middle portion thereof and vconsequent-ly cause arching of said plates against the separator 30, when the housing is moved rearwardly. The rear edge of the top and bottom Walls of said housing 17, as clearly 2, 4, and 6, is provided with inwardly extending ribs or anges 31, and

detachably engaged in the open rear end of said housing is a convex rear follower plate 32, which, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is provided with rib extensions 33, behind which the ribs 31, on said housing engage to hold said follower plate within the housing.

Said rear follower plate 32, as clearly shown in Figs. and 6, is provided on its rear surface with horizontally extending ribs 34, to reinforce and strengthen thc same. Riveted between the webs of the respective sills 1 and 2, at the rear of the horizontal supporting plate 20, is a heavy ribbed transverse abutment 35, against which said rear follower block 32, bears when the housing 17, is moved rearwz'irdly, and said transverse abutment is provided with a horizontal rib 36, on its front surface, to engage over vthe lowermost rib ofthe ribs 34, on said rear upwardly under heavy stress.

For the purpose of guiding the housing 17, during movement on said plate 20two Z-shaped brackets are provided, denoted by the reference numerals 37, one on each side of the cylindrical extension 16, of the housing and secured by means of bolts 38, to said horizontal plate 20, with the upper flanges of said brackets engaging over the lower flat or fianged portions of said extension 16, to which said chafing plate is secured` as clearly shown in Figs. l-.and 3.

- The operation is as follows: When the cars are coupled together, thus causing the buiing member 8, to be impelled inwardly, the stems 6 and 7, guide the same during such movement, the lighter coiled springs 11, aiding the heavy coiled-spring 15, in resisting such movement, the latter spring being compressed by the centerstem 6. The inward limit of movement of the buffing member 8, for compression of the springs 11 and 15, is determined by contact of the follower collar 14, with the end of the cylindrical extension 16, of the housing 17, and further inward movement-.of the buiiing member 8, causes movement as a whole of the gear housing 17, the same sliding upon the plate 20, guided between the brackets 37, on each side thereof. Duc to the pivotal connection between the side stems 7, and the buffer member 8, and due to the fact that the center stem 6, merely abuts lsaid members` it is obvious that pivotal moven'lent of the buffer member may take place, as when cars are coupled on a curve. The rear followerplate 32, being prevented from rearward movement lby the abutment 35, and centralized by, as' shown in Fig. 1, as well waaier struction, beinpY capable of absorbing tremendous loads,recoives the .excessive stress, due to abnormal movement ol the butling member, without the excessive stress being transmitted through the primary gear or coiled spring 15.

The purpose of the rectangular recesses at the end of each of the side walls oi`Y the housing 17, is to permit certain of the rear plates in the group 29, to be inserted or re moved from the device, as the case may be, either in assembling or dismantling the mechanism. For-this purpose a chisel or other suitable tool isA inserted through one of said recesses 25, to spring the edgeiot the outermost plate of the group 29, outwardly beyond the edge of the side wall of the housing 17, and another tool is inserted through the corresponding recess in the opposite wall,

whereby the end plate of the group may be driven outwardly thereby from the housing. After two or three plates have been thus removed in this manner, the initial stress on the parts 'of the gear will be relieved and the rear follower plate 32, may then be moved laterally, disengaging the projections 33.` thereon, from bhind the ribs 321, of the housing. rlhis type of bu'er gear is so constructed that it mayY be inserted' into that. type of platform frame wherein a casing is formed integral 'with the platform strucl. ture.

l am aware that various details of eon struction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and l therefore do not purpose. limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated b v the prior art. Y

l claim as my invention: Y v

1. A batting mechanism for railway cars, comprising a plurality of longitudinal sills, a buling member at the end of the sills prof vided with a pair of auxiliary supporting stems and an intermediate main stem, a bracket mounted on the outer tace of each sill and engaging the auxiliary stems, an abutment plate connected to the inner t'ace of each sill, shock absorbermeans interposed between the main stem and said abutment plate, supporting means for said shock ab sorbing means attached to said sills. a follower block interposed between said shock absorbing means and said abutment plate, and means on said abutment plate for centra'lizing Said follower block.

2. ln a boiling mechanism tor railway cars the combination of a buiing member, a stationary abutment., resilientmeans interposed between the landing member and the abutment, a movable housing inclosing said re silient means. a member movable relatively to the said housing, and detachably connected therewith tor compressing the resilient means ot the housing, and (zo-acting means on said stationary abutment and on said member adapted `to hold said menibcr from buckling upwardly under heavy stresses.

3. ln a device ol the class described the combination with the platform sills and bulling member ot' a car, of a housing inovably mounted between said sills, absorption gear mechanism Iwithin said housing, a follower plate removably engaging said housing to retain said absorption gear mechanism in place, a rigid abutment secured between said sills coacting with said mechanism to resist rearward movement ot said housing and also acting to centraline said follower plate, resilient mea-ns in the forward end of said housing coacting with said bulling member to resist rearward movement of said hurting member relative to said housing, and mecha nism transmitting the stress directly from said 'buliing member to the housing before the rlimiter` stress to said resilient. means has been imposed thereon to bring said absorption gear mechanism into operation.

Ll. ln a device ot the class described the combination with the platform sills and butling member of a car, ola plurality ot stems secured to said butling member lextending slidably and rearwardly through the platform end sill of the car, a housing disposed between said sills and capable of movement therebetween, guiding members for said housing, resilient means associated with the forward end of said housing to' resist. rea1- ward movement or said buliing member, brackets secured on the platform sills to receive the outer stems of said butiing member slidably therethrough, coiled springs diss posed around said stems to resist. movement of said buiiing member, an absorption gear mechanism within said housing to resist movement of the housing when the stress is transmitted directly thereto from said bult"- ingv member. and a follower plate removably engaging said housing to retain said absorption gear mechanism in place and also coact with said abutment to centralize the follower plat/e when the gear is stressed.

5. ln a device of the class described the combination with a platform buffer, ol .a buliing gear therefor comprising a movalilc housing, a primary gear mounted in one end thereof to resist relative movement of said butler with respect to said housing, a secondary gear mounted in said housing to resist movement thereof, a. follower block engaged in one end of said housing to co-act with said secondari,7 gear, ribs on said block, a stationary abutment member to resist movement of the block', and a rib on said member engaging between the end walls and between certain ol the ribs on said block to cen- .tralize said block with respect to the gear when -the gear is stressed. l 6. ln a platform halting gear a fixed abutment secured to the platform frame, ,a follower block forming n. part of Suid means on sind abutment to engage lower block 5 gear lsstrossed.

7. In e devlce geur, und said folto centmlize the sume when seid of the class (leecrihed :L

platform hu'ng gear comprising a movable housing, primary and Secondary bnfng gears therein adapted t 10 tion successively,

lower block for co o be brought into operaa fixed abut-ment, a folaction with the secondary geur, and means on seid abutment, for enn reglement with Suid block to centmlize the sumo und prevent upward moverm-,nt there` of when said gears ure stressed.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto sulr scribed my nume in the presence of two suhscrihing witnesses.

ARTHUR C. DAVIDSON. lvtnesees:

Cumulus W. Hmm, J r., FRANK K. HUDSON. 

